7 killed as cyclone Helen hits southern India

NEW DELHI - At least seven people were killed as cyclone Helen hit the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh Friday, bringing in heavy rainfall, disrupting power supply and destroying several homes and crops, a senior government official said.

"The cyclonic storm made landfall around 2 p.m. in Machilipatnam, the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh, some 600 km from state capital Hyderabad. Winds were blowing at a speed of 120 km an hour. So far, seven deaths have been reported mainly due to falling of trees," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, local authorities have evacuated more than 12,000 people from the affected region.

Local TV channels showed footage of heavy rainfall lashing the state as well as some parts of the neighboring southern state of Tamil Nadu and scattered parts of the eastern state of Odisha. The three states have been bracing for the cyclone.

However, cyclone Helen is weaker than the "very severe" cyclone Phailin which had hit the east coast further to the north in October, killing at least 18 and rendering over 40,000 people homeless.